Natchez Trace to relaunch site

TUPELO – The Natchez Trace Parkway is expected to have a revamped web presence by the end of the year.
At its annual meeting Monday, the Natchez Trace Compact, the marketing group for the Natchez Trace Parkway, discussed the need to reach out to tech-savvy tourists, including those who plan their trips via their mobile devices.
The current website, scenicTrace.com, will be revamped to include more tools for compact members, plus an interactive map to help tourists plan their trips.
The new site, according to Kim Collins, will be mobile-friendly. The compact contracts with Collins’ company to do the marketing, public relations and advertising for the group.
Along with the new site, Collins said she is looking into creating an iPhone application for the Trace. Members suggested the application include notable stops, in addition to restaurant and retail destinations in the communities “beyond the trees.”
The Trace also is going to dive into social media. The compact authorized $10,000 to be spent to pay a Collins’ employee to dedicate one day each week to blogging and participating in social networks such as Twitter, facebook and YouTube.
The group is funded through membership fees and federal grants. Remaining money from 2007 – $174,085.09 – will fund much of the group’s activities until the end of the year.
As of June, the group had a net income of $133,497.70.